REGIONAL organisations are targeting China in an effort to increase inward investment in the North-East.

Regional development agency One NorthEast and Country Durham Development Company have completed a ground-breaking seminar in Guangzhou, China, to give potential Chinese investors a clearer understanding of what the North-East has to offer.

"This is a unique approach to the Chinese market," said One NorthEast's director of strategic development Chris Fraser. "We targeted the south of the country where businesses are developing more rapidly and where foreign investment is becoming more and more prevalent."

One NorthEast targeted Guangzhou because it boasts a diverse range of businesses with potential inward investment interests.

More than 150 delegates from a range of organisations attended, with business men and women from a variety of sectors represented.

One NorthEast chaired the seminar and set the ball rolling with a discussion on why the North-East of England is one of Europe's best business and investment locations.

"We hosted more than 70 visits to the region from Chinese companies last year," added Mr Fraser. "This seminar gave us the opportunity to adopt a more proactive approach with China by introducing ourselves and the region in their own backyard."

Visits such as this put a marker down for the region in China, establishing contact and developing business relationships for future long term inward investments.

County Durham Development Company marketing director Phil Eadon said: "It gave us the opportunity to introduce the Chinese delegates to the benefits of the region and County Durham, but also to present information on the County Durham Interprise 2001 Initiative."